How to Break the Monotony of the Rat Race

How to Break the Monotony of the Rat Race

By: Spring Lee

We all start out with gusto on the job, but over time the same old regimen may begin to get us down. Everyone has dealt with the dreaded “Monday” blues when it’s time to get up and get back to the grind of the day to day routine. And then, every day starts to feel like a Monday…

There are some things that you can do to break the monotony of the rat race and make your job enjoyable again.

Change things up a bit

Most of us have a set way of doing things from the moment we open our eyes throughout the rest of our day. Many of us rush to get ready, grab a cup of Joe and rush out the door hoping to make it to work on time. Wake up a little early, hit the treadmill before your morning shower or listen to some relaxing music while you get ready. Breaking the urge to rush through the morning will offer a relaxation and peace of mind that will be carried throughout the rest of your day.

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Reach out to new people

We oftentimes fall into the routines of talking to the same old people or only those necessary to make it through the day. Reach out to others at work. Talk to the new Guy or even Mike in the mail room. You never know where the most interesting people will be found, and breaking the daily routine of the same faces will make your days far more enjoyable. Remember, the idea is to do things a little differently than you did the day before. You would be surprised what roles new people may play in these adventures as you navigate through your day.

Lighten up a little

While you shouldn’t be the class clown, a well-placed water cooler prank here and there may be just what the doctor ordered. If your boss doesn’t mind some tasteful humor in the workplace, and when it does not interfere with work, then you are good to go. Not only are you making your day a little more enjoyable, but your brightening it for others as well. The great thing is good moods are contagious, so you’re boosting employee morale which makes for a far better work environment.

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Set a goal and go for it!

So, there is a big promotion up for grabs or you just want to capture the attention of the new boss. That’s no problem, but don’t be so serious about it that you’re self-sabotaging. Be cool. Think outside of the box. Go above and beyond while holding onto your sense of humor and remember, most bosses want to be treated like any other coworker. One can only imagine how old it must get walking into a breakroom full of employees talking only to have it fall immediately into awkward silence. You want to impress them? Be the one to speak up and ask how their day is going. That will go as far or farther than just laying the file on their desk. You’ll also find that you have broken the monotony of the rat race, made your day more interesting by creating a challenge for yourself and gained a little leeway with the boss.

Whatever you decide to do to break the routine of the hustle and bustle of daily life, be it walking in to work from a few blocks away, a morning jog, some quiet time before it all begins or any of the above ideas. Keep in mind that it is important to do something should you find yourself in this rut. This is a way of self-rejuvenation and self-care. Boosting your quality of life also boosts your health and emotional wellbeing. After all, we spend a lot of time at our jobs, and making this part of our life something that we can enjoy is critical.

We would love to hear how you break the day to day boredom of the rat race in the comments below.

Want to learn more about how you can make an executive level $100k+ career changes? Contact one of our executive career coaches at 561-513-6989 to set up an appointment. Or email us at info@dragoncareers.com